Understanding depression
Depression is a feeling of sadness, hopelessness, emptiness that impacts how you act or feel. These symptoms can interfere with your ability to function with daily tasks in social, work, and school and it even consists of a low mood that may be a challenge to come out of.
Everything seems more difficult when you're dealing with depression. Work seems like a chore and getting out of bed can be nearly impossible. Some days you may not feel like doing anything. It’s tough.
Let’s take a look at some common signs and symptoms of depression.
Common signs and symptoms of depression
Common signs and symptoms of depression include:
The persistent feeling of sadness, tearfulness, or emptiness
Changes in sleep such as difficulty falling asleep/staying asleep or insomnia
Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities, such as sex, hobbies or sports
Reduced appetite and weight loss or increased cravings for food and weight gain
Low energy level or fatigue
Anxiety, agitation or restlessness
Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration, even over small matters
Poor concentration or poor memory
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
Frequent thoughts of suicide or thoughts about death
What you can do
Dealing with depression is not easy and it’s challenging to figure out what works best for you. Know that every technique won’t work, and that is perfectly OK. The important thing is that you try different skills and then decide for yourself what works best for you.
Here are some things to try in efforts to manage depression symptoms.
Social support: Connecting with other when dealing with depression can be beneficial. Reach out to your family and friends for support when you are feeling the effects of depression. A strong support system is great to rely on when you are going through rough times. Call a friend to hang out or to simply check-in with them.
Exercise: Try to move your body as much as possible. A quick walk around your neighborhood or at the local park can be beneficial for you physically and mentally. Exercising can help release the stress hormones that feed the depression. Overall, exercise is a great way to restore a healthy balance to your body so you should try to move your body as much as possible.
Sleep/Rest: Improve your sleep hygiene. A common symptoms of depression is sleep disturbance. Make necessary changes to ensure you get enough rest at night. Try not to be on your phone before bed. Resist the urge to work while in bed but instead only use your bed for sleeping. Engage in a relaxing activity before bed such as reading, taking a warm bath, or meditation. Maximize the amount of sleep/rest you get at night to better manage the depression symptoms.
When to seek help
Reach out for help if:
You feel like you're worrying too much and it's interfering with your work, relationships or other parts of your life
Your fear, worry or anxiety is upsetting to you and difficult to control
You feel depressed, have trouble with alcohol or drug use, or have other mental health concerns along with anxiety
You think your anxiety could be linked to a physical health problem
You have suicidal thoughts or behaviors — if this is the case, seek emergency treatment immediately
If you're reluctant to seek treatment, talk to a friend or loved one, any health care professional, a faith leader, or someone else you trust.
This blog post was written to hopefully shed some light on depression, its signs and symptoms, and some things to do to help manage the symptoms you may experience.
If you or anyone you know are struggling with these issues, and others, please feel free to reach out.
